I’ve never been to a bed and breakfast before.

To be honest, I never really wanted to. The idea of a personable travel experience kind of scared me.

However, last week, Brian & I had the opportunity to visit the Iron Kettle in Comber, ON. It was part of a work getaway – a retreat to plan out 2019 and connect with the other members of the team.

My first impression

Comber is a pretty small town, established in 1848 – if you blink, you might miss it. It’s quaint, and the perfect location for a B & B.

As I do with every other travel experience, I researched everything I could about it. I read every aspect of the website, read articles and even watched some videos. The thing that stood out the most to me – and what I loved about it – was that they do not serve alcohol. I don’t know entirely why I loved that so much, but I did.

Bags in tow, I instantly felt nostalgia tug on my heart as we stepped through the front door. If I closed my eyes, I could very well have been walking through the front door to visit my Oma & Opa.

The foyer was beautifully adorned with an 1800-style trim & wood details that perfectly framed the entrance. A bucket full of knitted slippers were available to keep your feet toasty warm.

Food

We arrived at noon and the owner, Benjamin Leblanc-Beaudoin had prepared a spread of culinary cuisine. There was no denying that he is a chef, by trade – foccacia, prosciutto croissants, root vegetable salad. After eating lunch, I knew I’d probably eat more than I should over the next 24 hours.

After a few hours of working and brainstorming with the team, we sat down in the dining room for dinner. Warm bread welcomed us as we gathered, followed by a salad of baby greens, honey roasted carrots and macadamia nuts tossed in an apple cider vinaigrette. My favourite part of the salad was the macadamia nuts! For the main course, we had a choice of lemon poached salmon or grilled rib-eye steak with mashed potatoes and a roasted medley of vegetables that invigorated every taste bud. I had the salmon, which had a burst of flavour in every bite and tasted like nothing I’ve ever had before! For someone who has never really cared about food, I absolutely loved it! Dessert looked amazing – vanilla creme brulee – and for a split second, I almost caved and ate it. Instead, I watched as everyone savoured every spoonful of the perfectly carmelized custard.

Sitting Room

After dinner, I pretty much-needed a nap. Food that good should never be followed up by work. However, since that was the purpose of our retreat, we retired to the sitting room. There was more than enough room for all 10 of us to sit around the room, comfortable enough to engage in a planning session.

Accommodations

Brian & I stayed in the Iron Kettle Room, located on the main floor, just inside the foyer and at the base of the stairs.

Each room is equipped with a queen bed, a bathroom (with a shower), a bathrobe, toiletries, ceiling fan and a sitting space. There is also wi-fi throughout the house, so people like me can stay connected to our kids. We also had a portable heater in our room due to the fact that it was -40 outside.

Just a little chilly.

The bed was quite comfortable and surprisingly warm, given the fact that it was so cold outside.

I woke up to the sweet aroma of breakfast and coffee – the perfect way to start the morning.

Final Thoughts

I loved the atmosphere – especially the feel that the house had in the wake of the polar vortex. Everything was clean and beautiful. The owners (we only met Ben) were so personable and I loved hearing their story and the history of the house. Also, we felt so welcomed that it was almost like we were old friends.

For my very first experience at a B & B, it was definitely an impressionable stay. Although work brought us there, it absolutely felt more like home.

If you haven’t been there, I would highly recommend checking it out.